Determinants of Uptake of Childhood Immunization among Mothers of Under-Five in Asuogyaman District, Ghana

Abstract

Promoting immunization uptake has the potential to reduce substantially vaccine preventable diseases among children. It is a reliable way of combating mortality and morbidity in children. In spite of the availability of vaccines, there is low uptake of immunization in developing countries such as Ghana. Mothers play a key role in the immunization of their children. This study seeks to describe the determinants of uptake of immunization among mothers with children under-five in the Asuogyaman district of the Eastern Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional study design using quantitative research tools was employed. The EPI cluster sampling strategy was adapted and used to recruit 174 women with children under five years for the study. Data from administered questionnaire were analyzed using STATA version 14. The study found out that majority of mothers in the study area had knowledge about immunization. Also, most mothers have positive attitude towards immunization and more than half had immunized their children. However, “long waiting time” and “too busy “schedule were identified by mothers as constrains towards immunization of their children. Measures to improve immunization uptake by mothers should target addressing long waiting time as well as making immunization schedules convenient to mothers. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, uptake, immunization.